Pneumatic draft gear



J. F. WEBB, SR

PNEUMATIC DRAFT GEAR Filed sept. 1.v 1921' 2 shuts-sh. 1

Train .Lner- Jean/'' -Webb, 511

f' BY I April 1, 1.924.v

J. F. WEBB' 5R PNEUMATIC nml-Tlam l med sept. 1. y1921 l 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 NVENTOR feanji' Webk Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

VJEAN F. WEBB, SAR., F YORK, N. Y.

NEUEATIC DRAFT GEAR.

Application med September 1, 1921. Serial No. 497,522.

To all whom it may concer/n:

I Be it known that I, JEAN F. WEBB, Sr., a citizen of the United-States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new .and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Draft Gears,

of which the followin is a specification.

My invention has or its object to provide a draft gear for railwa cars vand the like whereby the jolts and )ars ofa train may be cushioned and reduced, if not en-V tirely eliminated, and to provide a yielding or iexible cushion of com ressed and confined air to receive the initial blow or iinpact of metal to metal couplers coming -tof gether with terrific force, either in coupling or when trains are in motion, thereby reventing draft gears being broken or pu led out with careless switching or sudden jerks, when long trains are in motion.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize the compressed air of the air brake system to provide the cushioning means inan air tight telescoping cylinder in combination with the cushioning springs housed in the cylinder and formed as a part of the draft gear.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby mashing or undue compression of the draft ear springs is pre-4 vented or, in other woiil s, to provide means whereby when unusual force is a plied to 'compress the draft springs, .the soliid abutments will limit the compression so as not to go beyond the safe compression factor of the sprinlgl. v

A furt er object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic draft gear consisting generally of cushion springs housed in an air tight cylinder or caisson composed of telescoping sections lwith4 provisions for maintaining compressed air in the cylinders,

the cylinders and springs being so ro ortioned and related that the initial s oc is received b the air cushion Within the cylinders an on further com ression of thc cylinders, the resistance of t e springs will be encountered thereby adding to the cushioning resistance step by step, producing a reater resistance on a constantly weakening blow. e

In its vmore detailed nature the invention also resides in those'novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described and then be specifically pointed out `in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichz' Figure lis a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an inverted horizontal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is av detail perspective view of the telescopic cylinder and spring unit removed from the yoke.

Figure 5 is atop plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

In the drawin s in which like numerals and letters of re erence designate like parts in all of the fi res, 1 represents the sills of the car whic have the fixed abutments 2--2 spaced. apart and between which the heads 6-6 of the shock absorbin unit are located. The coupler 3 is provide with the usual yoke 4.

In carrying out my invention according to the embodiment thereof shown in `Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, I place between the opposing pairs of abutments 2--2 within the yoke 4, a cushioning unit composed of telescopin cylinders-8--8, each closed at their outer en sby heads 6 which have lugs 7 to rest on the yoke 4, the inner end of the outer cylinder 8 also having lugs 9 to rest on the yoke 4 andthereby sustain the Cparts against droppin throulgh the yokean time ena lin t e unit to be easily removed and replace for inspection and repair, when necessary. The yoke 4 rides between and is supported by the pairs of abutments 2--2 (see igure 3). T e telescoping cylinders 8--8 where they telescope are provided with packin rings l1 to eect an air tight joint, where y to maintain air under pressure within the chamber of the cylinders 8'8, the latter being admitted from the train line 15 through the connection 16 and back check valve 17 to the port 14 which communicates with the interior of the cylinders.

10 is a pet cock through which water of condensation may be drained.Y from' the cyl inders. Within the cylinders is located a at the same lco set of compression springs 12, the extended length of which is such that when the cylinder heads 6 6 are separated to their utmost degree, i. e. when they eachlie against their respective abutments 2 2, will a ply no pressure to the cylinder heads, that 1s to say the extended length of the springs 1s less than the distance between the heads 6 6 when such heads are at their extreme outer positions for a purpose presently to appear. The heads 6 6 are provided with lugs 13 for holding the several springs 12 of the set out of engagement with one another to prevent interlocking of the spring loops.

Instead of arranging the unit as shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, where the yoke 4 lies horizontally, the same may be arranged as shown in Figure 5. The heads 6 6 being made of larger diameter than that of the cylinders 8 8, may be grooved at 7i to receive the yoke 4, it being, of course, understood thatlin assembling the parts in this form, the yoke is first placed over the unit to lie in the grooves or recesses 7*1 before the yoke is riveted to the coupler head 3 and in removing the parts the operation is reversed.

In this form also the outer cylinder 8 may be provided with pairs of shoulders Sla-9 to engage the sides of the yoke and the cylinder 8 and heads 6 may be further provided with lugs 9b and 7* to ride in slots in suitable guide plates 1x secured to the sills 1- and replacement of the cushioning unit can be made.

In order to remove the cushioning unit from the yoke in Figure 1, the connection 16 is removed. The heads 6 6 are held toward each other by suitable clamp devices not shown, and the unit (see Figure 4) is lifted up and out from the yoke and from between the abutments 2 2. The unit is'replaced by reversing this sequence of operations as will be quite evident to those skilled in the art by mere inspection of Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. It should, of course, be understood that if the unit lies close to the car floor the car Hoor will be provided with the usualcover plate which can be removed before attempting to remove or replace the cushioning unit as above described.

In the practical operation -of my invention, the pressure maintained within the telescoping cylinders 8 8 is the equivalent of the train line air pressure, a suitableA back check valve 17 being provided to hold' the air pressure in the cylinders and prevent the air escaping back in the train line, if the train line pressure should fall at any time be 0nd the pressure within the cylinders.

he essential feature of thepresent invention resides in providing a cushioning unit combining an air cushion with mechanical spring action to absorb the shocks and at the same time enclose and protect the springs against the elements and hold them` in such position that they will not interlock with each other; it will also be observed that the length of the cylinders 8 is such that upon completely telescoping the cylinders, they assume such position before the safe limit of compression ofthe springs is reached, thereby protecting the springs against inashing and against such compression as would pass their limit of' elasticity. My construction thus prevents crystallization of the springs by over compression of the same and by graduated action of the cushioning means (initiating the cushioning action by compressed air, then continuing it by compressed air resistance plus mechanical spring resistance) Iam enabled to increase the life of the springs considerably. It will also be observed that as the cylinders are telescoped the compressed air within the cylinders is further compressed, depending upon the distance to which the cylinders are telescoped, the pressure rising in the cylinders'as the cylinders telescope together, thereby increasing the resisting pressure as the cylinders are telescoped, this increase of pressure being augmented by the springv action after the initial blow hasbeen received by the pure i air cushion action at the commencement of the telescoping of the cylinder.

By utilizing the air pressure of the train line air in the manner stated, ample cushioning resistance per square inch of surface is provided to take care of the blows encountered in practice and while I prefer to utilize the train'line air, yet it is obvious that a separate source of air supply may be provided for the cylinders 8 8 if found desirable.

By makin the cylinders 8 8 air tight, it is also possi le to supply the same with a quantity of lubricant to keep the packing rings 11 in condition to effect an air tight seal.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the complete construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1.. In aI draft gear, the combination with the front and rear fixed pairs of sill abutments, the coupler head and the oke which rides between and is supported y the said abutments; a cushioning unit bodily insertable from above into the yoke in its assembled condition and removable in the same way therefrom. A y 2. In a draft gear, the combination with the front and rear fixed pairs of sill abutments, the coupler head and the yoke which rides between and is supportedby the said on the top'of said yoke and support the unit abutments; a cushioning unit bodilyyinsertthereon, all being arranged whereby the unit able fiom above into the yoke in its assemin its assembled condition may be inserted. 10 bled condition and removable in the same way bodily into and removed from the yoke and 5 therefrom, said unit comprising telescoping when in place will be held down by gravity.; cylinder'sections having f'portlons to abut y said ebutments and having top lugs to lie JEAN F. WEBB, Sn. 

